Radiator Cost

How Much Does a Radiator Cost?

A key part of a vehicle's cooling system, a radiator is a sophisticated reservoir device that holds a mixture of water and antifreeze fluid (also called coolant); the radiator keeps the engine from overheating and in many cases also cools the automatic transmission fluid. There are no moving parts in a radiator, but corrosion from inside and outside can eventually cause a leak. HowStuffWorks.com provides a radiator overview[1] .

Typical costs:

Having a car radiator replaced can cost $150-$900 or more depending on the age, make and model of vehicle; the type of coolant used; whether the new radiator is made by the original vehicle manufacturer (called OEM) or is aftermarket (manufactured by another company); and where the work is done. CostHelper Readers report paying $150-$898 for a radiator replacement at a standard radiator, muffler or auto repair shop, with an average cost of $481; and $357-$804 at a car dealership, with an average cost of $688.

Having a radiator replaced in a minivan, SUV or pickup can cost $250-$950 or more, depending on the age, make and model of vehicle; type of coolant; if the radiator and parts are OEM or aftermarket; and where the work is done. CostHelper readers report paying $$287 -$706 at a standard shop, for an average cost of $511; and $650-$833 at a dealership, with an average cost of $742.

Quotes on replacing a radiator should include the actual part, fresh coolant, any replacement hoses needed, labor and tax. MobilOil.com provides do-it-yourself instructions[2] , estimating the difficulty level to be moderate and estimating the project will take three hours.

Modern radiators typically have an aluminum core and plastic side tanks.

Additional costs:

The water pump might need replacing at the same time as the radiator. A water pump typically costs about $50-$100 or more for just the part; labor can bring the total additional cost to $200-$750, depending on the make and model of vehicle.

Discounts:

It's possible to save money with do-it-yourself installation, although the project is somewhat complex. DIY costs are typically $100-$300, depending on what is included; an aftermarket radiator typically costs $100-$250 and radiator hoses can cost $15-$50. CostHelper readers report total costs of $101-$268 for do-it-yourself replacement of a new radiator, with an average cost of $163, while a CostHelper reader in Texas reports paying $55 for DIY installation of a used radiator.

CostHelper readers who purchased a radiator online and hired a local mechanic to install it (usually with the work done in the reader's garage or driveway) report total costs of $174-$400, or an average of $259.

Radiator "stop leak" products that seal small holes are available for $5-$15. This could extend the life of a radiator that has a small leak, but many mechanics warn against[3] these products, saying they are not always effective and can clog the vehicle's cooling system and heater core.

Shopping for a radiator:

When it comes to auto repair, labor charges can vary wildly, so get quotes from several shops to find a fair price for a radiator. Both the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence[4] and the International Automotive Technicians Network[5] provide a searchable directory of repair shops.

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I replaced the water pump and thermostat in July. Car started leaking fluid more than a month later. Water pump job was easy and had a fear radiator needed replacing too. Knowing this was a nasty job I let my guy Manny handle it. I figure $150 for the part MAYBE $200 for labor. need to chew him down $50.

$40 for lower hose, couldn't remove old one without cutting it off. $30 antifreeze. $45 used radiator from junk yard. They pulled it. First one had a leak so had to go back and exchange it. Labor intensive.

Actually the transmission fluid was leaking, but the way RAV4 is designed it runs through the radiator. I bought the car used and the mechanic said the car showed signs that it was in a front end accident roughly about a 20-25 mph impact. Next time I buy a used car I will get the VPN and do a little history check.If I drove any further my car would have been toast. I found him on YELP! and he was only a 1.5 miles away. The guy took it in that day and fixed it when everyone else gave me a turn around time of 5 days. It ran smooth afterwords and I think he cleaned my engine...no foul oder.

My radiator needed to b replaced asap. Midas quoted me at $600...then called and said it was the thermometer that clogged and caused the radiator to tear... now price is $780. I dropped off car at 4 pm. And was ready next day by 11am.

After paying the above listed repairs for my 2001 Rav4 - I'm still in a state of shock and upset at the final cost I had to pay - now knowing how cheap the above listed parts would have cost me if I had ordered them myself and had gone to a mechanic.

Don't let shops rip you off! This is my second replacement (did one in another vehicle). The Radiator was $108.00 and Genuine Toyota Coolant $20.00. Remember one thing, it goes in the way it came out so take your time and focus on the job and you'll do just fine.

Unfortunately, I needed it right away on a Saturday so I went to the dealer. Though the radiator cap was less than one year old and I had seen it was still in good shape, they tried to tell me I needed a new one because the old one was corroded and had undergone too much pressure (a leak causes an increase in pressure ?!?!). I was told the replacement radiator was aftermarket yet it still cost $300! Never again!

We were out-staters traveling through Raleigh, NC when the radiator on our low mileage Acura sprung a leak. Billy's service station was close so we went there(we didn't have much choice). rnrnThe costs: rnradiator-$248.70 rnthermostat -$38.25rngasket - $6.50rnantifreeze -$57.10rnLabor - $400.50rnsupplies $12.27rntax - $23.66rnrnTotal $786.98 OUTRAGEOUS!rnrnAgain, the owner's name was "Billy" as in "Billy the Kid."

Steam started coming out of my car, and the temp gauge started rising. I parked the car right away, towed it to Joe's the next morning. He replaced the radiator, hoses, thermostat, and filled up the coolant all by 2pm. I probably could've paid less elsewhere, but I know they always do the job right. Labor was $325. The radiator was $120 for the part.

I bought a used radiator for my explorer. To remove it, took about 5 minutes. 2 clamps for hoses, 2 bolts for the shroud, 2 bolts that hold the radiator on (all bolts are 10 mm I believe)rnand 2 transmission lines (5/8 inch wrench worked)rnThen I spent 11.99 on antifreeze after flushing the engine and radiator.

Broke down, then had my SUV towed to local mechanic shop not dealer. They charged me $706.00 for new radiator, hoses, flush, and thermostat. Was that a good price? I don't know anything about engines and what-not. It took less than 3 hrs to fix it and get it back to me. I was relieved about that. I hate being stranded.

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